Japan's newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made his first overseas visit to Southeast Asian countries. Very soon he will make the more usual pilgrimage from Tokyo to Washington to meet U.S. President Barack Obama.

What should he say to Obama as both begin their new terms in office? On what issues do other Asians hope the two long-standing allies will focus?

The expectation — or fear — is that the conversation will turn to the other Asian giant not in the room: China.